Megabus is riding high with new double-decker coaches and lots of new passengers thanks to $4-a-gallon gas. But is service on the super cheap bus up to snuff? Sort of!
One recent Megabus rider wasn't looking forward to her trip. Said an Ohio University student:
No one wants to take the bus, but driving and flying are so expensive.
Why wouldn't anyone want to roll Megabus style? Probably because of what another rider experienced:
The scene on 31st Street was TOTAL CHAOS. People lined up on the sidewalk for different destinations. We left about half an hour late, but smooth sailing the rest of the way, and I sat up front with no one next to me. The bus driver had NEVER driven to Boston before, so I had to help him out.
Super-cheap coach line Megabus may not be as slick as BoltBus, but the company's about to introduce something pretty cool.
Megabus says they'll be the first outfit to offer double-decker rides between Boston and New York; the service is scheduled to start sometime in the next four months. As it turns out, folks in the Midwest have already tried the two-teired coaches. A St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter gave one a go in late May:
Except for a few bug splatters, my front row seat on the upper level of the double-decker Megabus gave me a sweeping view of the Missouri countryside. The guy sitting across from me, Dick Williams, agreed: "You get the panoramic view--it's the best seat in a thunderstorm."
We've covered BoltBus, MegaBus, and even the new NeOn, but never before have we been fortunate enough to get a full-on review of what really matters. Thankfully, word of all these cheap buses has spread across the pond, and the UK Times reveals the beauty that is the BoltBus lavatory:
I step inside the cubicle and shut the door. It's pitch black. I pat the walls, searching for the switch. Nothing. This'll be fun ... Suddenly, the door swings open and, as I turn to shut it again, I see a sign saying "Lock for light". I do, and am illuminated ... Aaaah, that's better. The bus lurches and I pee on my shoes.
There's no sink, but there is a dispenser of waterless detergent, the kind you get in hospitals, which feels strangely tingly on my hands. As that's the only nod to hygiene, though, and it's not bolted down, it might be an idea to pack some wet-wipes.
If you're up for this type of adventure, then BoltBus is clearly for you. Coaches now stop in New York, Washington, Boston and Philadelphia. Just remember to hit up the loo before you hop on.
The much-hyped BoltBus starts its Boston service tomorrow, and in advance of the debut, the Boston Globe has a lengthy story about what makes the cheapo bus line worth riding.
BoltBus said it got the idea of offering at least one seat per bus for a buck from Skybus, which priced at least 10 seats per plane for $10 until it went bankrupt and shut down this month. BoltBus doesn't view Skybus's demise as a warning...All 51 seats on all 12 daily buses scheduled through Sunday will cost $1 each, plus a 50 cent online booking fee.
Though the tickets are cheap, the service isn't, says BoltBus honcho David Hall. The company's flashy coaches feature an on-board safety video and toilets that actually flush with "blue swirly chemicals" and boarding is handled Southwest Airlines-style in groups.
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